Follow UsKL Rahul has been considered one of the most talented and naturally gifted batters in world cricket, which is why his Test average has left many shocked. Rahul’s average in Test cricket has ‘improved’ to 35 now but it was a scarcely believable 33 before the start of the England series, despite the fact that Rahul had been a rock in SENA conditions since 2021.
With two hundreds in three Tests, the right-hander has made a dream start to the England tour, and so with Rahul finally having established himself as a sure-shot starter, former India head coach Ravi Shas tri believes it’s time for the 33-year-old to make it count.
“He's at his prime. He has got to make these next three, four years count,” Shastri said on the ICC Review.
“And I see him getting a lot of hundreds because he's playing a lot of cricket in India as well. So whatever that average is, he should be close to 50.”
The former India head coach spoke about the one thing that left everyone ‘annoyed’ and frustrated whenever they watched Rahul bat.
“I think there was not one person in the world who denied his potential and said that he [Rahul] was not talented,” Shastri said.
“What annoyed people was, with that kind of talent, he was not delivering. And in this series, you're seeing the best of Rahul.”
The recent success of Rahul, Shastri believes, is down to some key technical adjustments he’s made.
Speaking of the tweaks Rahul has made in his technique, Shastri said, “What I am seeing is a slight adjustment he's made with his front foot, in his stance and while defending.
“It just opened up a bit, which allows his back to come through cleanly. Even when he's hitting it towards mid-wicket, it's the full face of the blade.
“He doesn't need to close the face of the blade, and fall over and get into trouble like he used to in the past. He would get out leg before, would get out bowled, he would get across too far and then be out leg before as well.
“He is sound technically, he has been as good as anyone. Especially, it's not moved a lot in the series, but when it's moved, he has had the game to look after that movement.”
Since 2021, Rahul is averaging 40.78 in SENA countries, despite playing 16/18 Tests as an opener.